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CEN Pre Test 2025 — Certified Emergency
Nurse Practice Questions, Study Guide, and
BCEN Exam Preparation Tips
Prepare for the CEN Pre Test 2025 with the latest Certified Emergency Nurse (BCEN)
practice test questions, study guide, and expert exam prep tips. Review key topics in
emergency care, trauma, cardiac, and patient management to boost your confidence and pass
the CEN certification exam on your first try.
• CEN pre test 2025
• Certified Emergency Nurse pre test
• CEN practice test free 2025
• CEN study guide and practice questions
1. Pulse pressure us the difference between systolic BP and diastolic BP, and is widened in which of the
following disorders?
a. Early hypovolemic shock
b. Increased intracranial pressure
c. Cardiac tamponade
d. Neurogenic shock - ANSWER-b. Increased ICP
Rationale: Pulse pressure (SBP-DBP) is widened in increased ICP. Pulse pressure is narrow in early shock,
cardiac tamponade, and aortic valve stenosis
2. Parents bring in their 4 wk old infant w/ non bilious projectile vomiting and persistent hunger. Which
of the following conditions is suspected?
a. Pyloric stenosis
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b. Intussusception
c. Appendicitis
d. Volvulus - ANSWER-a. Pyloric stenosis
Rationale: Pyloric stenosis is characterized by non-bilious projectile vomiting and persistent hunger.
Volvulus has bilious vomiting.
Systemic vascular resistance (SVR) is decreased in which type of shock?
a. Hypovolemic
b. Cardiogenic
c. Obstructive
d. Distributive - ANSWER-d. Distributive
Rationale: Afterload (pressure) is low in distributive shock (neurogenic, septic and anaphylactic) d/t
vasodilation, and high in all other forms of shock d/t vasoconstriction.
4. A 64 yr old female fell and transported to the ED via EMS for severe hip pain and inability to move.
What classification of medications may mask the early signs of hypovolemic shock?
a. Beta-blockers
b. ACE inhibitors
c. Angiotensin receptor blockers
d. Calcium channel blockers - ANSWER-a. Beta blockers
Rationale: Beta blockers mask the early signs of shock and hypoglycemia
5. A patient is transported to the ED via EMS for headache, vomiting, and progressive confusion after a
fall three days ago. Which of the following head injuries is the most likely cause of these symptoms?
a. Concussion
b. Epidural hematoma
c. Subdural hematoma
d. Basilar skull fracture - ANSWER-c. Subdural hematoma
Rationale: Subdural hematomas are slower bleeds since venous. Seen commonly in alcoholics, elderly,
and from shaken impact syndrome
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6. Which of the following is the hallmark symptom of Prinzmetal's angina?
a. CP with physical exertion
b. CP at rest d/t coronary vasospasm
c. CP relieved by NTG and rest
d. Atypical S/S such as epigastric pain - ANSWER-B. CP at rest d/t coronary vasospasm
Rationale: The hallmark sign of Prinzmetals angina is pain at rest. It is d/t coronary vasospasm, so may be
seen w/ stimulant use.
7. A patient w/ a stab wound to the left flank area is unable to move his left side and unable to feel the
right side of his body. These symptoms are associated with which of the following incomplete spinal cord
injuries?
a. Anterior cord syndrome
b. Posterior cord syndrome
c. Central cord syndrome
d. Brown-Sequard syndrome - ANSWER-D. Brown- Sequard Syndrome
Rationale: Brown-Sequard is the incomplete cord syndrome w/ ipsilateral motor loss and contralateral
loss of sensation. It has a high rehab prognosis.
23. Which of the followings S/S is NOT characteristics of Wernicke's encephalopathy?
a. Confabulation
b. Chronic memory loss
c. Ataxia
d. Nystagmus - ANSWER-b. Chronic memory loss
Wernicke's encepalopathy is characterized by confusion and confabulation, gait ataxia, and nystagmus.
Chronic/permanent memory loss is a symptom of Korsakoff's syndrome
24. A patient complains of an excruciating unilateral headache w/ nasal congestion and excessive
lacrimation on the affected side. The nurse suspects:
a. Migraine
b. Temporal arteritis
CEN Pre Test 2025 — Certified Emergency
Nurse Practice Questions, Study Guide, and
BCEN Exam Preparation Tips
Prepare for the CEN Pre Test 2025 with the latest Certified Emergency Nurse (BCEN)
practice test questions, study guide, and expert exam prep tips. Review key topics in
emergency care, trauma, cardiac, and patient management to boost your confidence and pass
the CEN certification exam on your first try.
• CEN pre test 2025
• Certified Emergency Nurse pre test
• CEN practice test free 2025
• CEN study guide and practice questions
1. Pulse pressure us the difference between systolic BP and diastolic BP, and is widened in which of the
following disorders?
a. Early hypovolemic shock
b. Increased intracranial pressure
c. Cardiac tamponade
d. Neurogenic shock - ANSWER-b. Increased ICP
Rationale: Pulse pressure (SBP-DBP) is widened in increased ICP. Pulse pressure is narrow in early shock,
cardiac tamponade, and aortic valve stenosis
2. Parents bring in their 4 wk old infant w/ non bilious projectile vomiting and persistent hunger. Which
of the following conditions is suspected?
a. Pyloric stenosis
,2|Page
b. Intussusception
c. Appendicitis
d. Volvulus - ANSWER-a. Pyloric stenosis
Rationale: Pyloric stenosis is characterized by non-bilious projectile vomiting and persistent hunger.
Volvulus has bilious vomiting.
Systemic vascular resistance (SVR) is decreased in which type of shock?
a. Hypovolemic
b. Cardiogenic
c. Obstructive
d. Distributive - ANSWER-d. Distributive
Rationale: Afterload (pressure) is low in distributive shock (neurogenic, septic and anaphylactic) d/t
vasodilation, and high in all other forms of shock d/t vasoconstriction.
4. A 64 yr old female fell and transported to the ED via EMS for severe hip pain and inability to move.
What classification of medications may mask the early signs of hypovolemic shock?
a. Beta-blockers
b. ACE inhibitors
c. Angiotensin receptor blockers
d. Calcium channel blockers - ANSWER-a. Beta blockers
Rationale: Beta blockers mask the early signs of shock and hypoglycemia
5. A patient is transported to the ED via EMS for headache, vomiting, and progressive confusion after a
fall three days ago. Which of the following head injuries is the most likely cause of these symptoms?
a. Concussion
b. Epidural hematoma
c. Subdural hematoma
d. Basilar skull fracture - ANSWER-c. Subdural hematoma
Rationale: Subdural hematomas are slower bleeds since venous. Seen commonly in alcoholics, elderly,
and from shaken impact syndrome
, 3|Page
6. Which of the following is the hallmark symptom of Prinzmetal's angina?
a. CP with physical exertion
b. CP at rest d/t coronary vasospasm
c. CP relieved by NTG and rest
d. Atypical S/S such as epigastric pain - ANSWER-B. CP at rest d/t coronary vasospasm
Rationale: The hallmark sign of Prinzmetals angina is pain at rest. It is d/t coronary vasospasm, so may be
seen w/ stimulant use.
7. A patient w/ a stab wound to the left flank area is unable to move his left side and unable to feel the
right side of his body. These symptoms are associated with which of the following incomplete spinal cord
injuries?
a. Anterior cord syndrome
b. Posterior cord syndrome
c. Central cord syndrome
d. Brown-Sequard syndrome - ANSWER-D. Brown- Sequard Syndrome
Rationale: Brown-Sequard is the incomplete cord syndrome w/ ipsilateral motor loss and contralateral
loss of sensation. It has a high rehab prognosis.
23. Which of the followings S/S is NOT characteristics of Wernicke's encephalopathy?
a. Confabulation
b. Chronic memory loss
c. Ataxia
d. Nystagmus - ANSWER-b. Chronic memory loss
Wernicke's encepalopathy is characterized by confusion and confabulation, gait ataxia, and nystagmus.
Chronic/permanent memory loss is a symptom of Korsakoff's syndrome
24. A patient complains of an excruciating unilateral headache w/ nasal congestion and excessive
lacrimation on the affected side. The nurse suspects:
a. Migraine
b. Temporal arteritis
